The Nigeria Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is exploring the possibilities of piping crude oil from Niger Republic for refining in Kaduna, NNPC Group Managing Director, GMD, Maikanti Baru, said on Friday.

Mr. Baru who visited on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i in Kaduna, said President Muhammadu Buhari was personally committed to the project.

He said it was important to explore alternative crude supply to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and age.

“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic.

“This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna.

“That efforts is being championed by Mr. President himself.

“We have already started engagements with the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem.”

Mr. Baru also pledged to sustain efforts at enhancing energy supply to power industries in Kaduna through the development of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, as well as development of power plants in Kaduna and Abuja.

“These projects will be given special attention during my tenure,” he said.

The GMD disclosed that the College of Petroleum Resources in Kaduna would start operation on January 1, 2017, and thanked the state government for undertaking to construct internal roads in the school.

He urged the governor to sensitise residents of Kaduna against sabotage of the nation’s oil assets due to its adverse effect on the community, environment and national economy.

Responding, Mr. El-Rufa’i said the corporation has assumed a new toga since Mr. Baru took over, adding that prompt remittances by the corporation to the Federation Account has remained consistent.

“We are very interested in the NNPC because how well you do affects our lives as states and as a country.

“This is why many of us are quite gratified you are in charge, and already results are beginning to show as remittances to the Federation Account are higher, state governors are happier than before,” he said.

The governor pledged to support the gas pipeline project because of its tremendous potentials to the social and economic stability of the state.

He expressed confidence that ongoing reforms of the NNPC would strengthen the corporation to serve Nigeria better.

Mr. El-Rufa’i assured that the government would tackle issues of water supply to KRPC and pipeline security through massive enlightenment and treating those engaged in illegal activities as criminals.